Vandals attack village tree (From The Advertiser Series)

Vandals attack village tree

11:20am Friday 18th December 2009

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THE replacement for the Christmas tree dubbed the “world’s worst” by some residents in Sacriston is in an equally pathetic state after being targeted by vandals The tree, near the Fulforth Centre in Front Street, was wrecked at the weekend.

Vicar, Canon Caroline Dick, said: “They have cut it and have buckled the frame around it. They have either snapped it or cut it.”

Last Friday night, Canon Dick led a group of up to 40 villagers in singing a specially- adapted carol about the tree as a response to the negative publicity. That tree, like its replacement – installed by Durham County Council, only stood about four feet tall as two feet of its height had been knocked off in bad weather.

The council replaced it after complaints about its unimpressive stature made headlines around the world, but even the replacement had its critics.

Canon Dick said the villagers had wanted to send a positive message after the negative publicity and link the tree to the climate change summit in Copenhagen.

They recorded a video of a performance of a carol about the tree in the Fulforth Centre and posted it on the video sharing website You Tube.

Allen Turner, one of the village’s Durham county councillors, said: “It is the first time we have had a tree in the village. It was a little tree because that is what we wanted.

“The frame is pretty badly damaged. We have to decide if we’ll put the frame back.

“We probably will because it is the festive season and with the lights on it does look nice in the dark as you drive past.

“I’m just very disappointed.

That has been the reaction of everybody in the village”

A Durham Police spokesman said the damage was reported on Sunday morning and appeared to have been done overnight.

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